Governor Patrick and Beacon Hill Leadership to Honor Bay State Small Business at 1st Annual State House Small Business Week 2012
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Stephanie Keller (Rep. Forry) 617-722-2080
Christie Getto Young (Sen. DiDomenico) 617-722-1620
Governor Patrick and Beacon Hill Leadership to Honor Bay State Small Business at 1st Annual State House Small Business Week 2012
Co-Chairs of Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business host week-long series of small business focused events at the State House in honor of National Small Business Week
BOSTON, MA –Today, Governor Deval Patrick has confirmed his attendance at the first ever State House Small Business Week hosted by Senator Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett) and Representative Linda Dorcena Forry (D-Dorchester), Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Community Development & Small Business. Governor Patrick will join Treasurer Steven Grossman, Senate President Therese Murray and Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo in recognizing the incomparable contributions of the Commonwealth’s nearly 585,000 small business owners and entrepreneurs. The weeklong celebration could not have come at a better time, as Beacon Hill leaders just this week unveiled a comprehensive economic development bill which includes several significant initiatives designed to assist small businesses and spur local growth. State House Small Business Week will be held from May 21st through the 26th in conjunction with National Small Business Week. Events will serve to draw attention to the numerous resources available to existing or aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners and encourage Massachusetts residents to shop small and local this Spring.
“Over 85 percent of Massachusetts businesses are small and they employ nearly half of all working people in the Commonwealth,” said Governor Patrick. “We welcome Small Business Week to the State House to recognize the valuable contributions small businesses make to our collective growth and prosperity.”
“I am proud to take part in Small Business Week,” said Treasurer Steven Grossman. “The success of our small business community directly affects the overall economic health and wellbeing of Massachusetts. We are particularly pleased that our Small Business Banking Partnership is a catalyst for hundreds of small business loans throughout the Commonwealth.”
“State House Small Business Week is an opportunity to showcase the many important contributions our small businesses make to the Commonwealth and our economic growth,” Senate President Therese Murray said. “Small businesses play a vital role in our state’s economy and they must be part of our long-term growth solution in the Commonwealth. I’m proud of the investments we have made and we are committed to continuing to support our small business community.”
“Dedicating a week to small businesses allows us in the State House to truly celebrate their contribution to our Commonwealth,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. “In these tough fiscal times, we must remain cognizant of the important role that small businesses play in our economy as Massachusetts looks to emerge from this recession.”
“I am looking forward to honoring the Commonwealth’s small business community for their vital contributions to our state’s economy,” said Senator Sal DiDomenico, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business. “By extending our discussion with local entrepreneurs and small businesses from the Statewide Listening Tour conducted in the fall, we can continue to gain further insight on how the legislature can properly assist our small businesses and promote economic growth in our communities. State House Small Business Week will also provide us with a timely opportunity to highlight recent efforts to improve the business climate, as well as promote the many resources and programs available to small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs across the state.”
“This celebration, which we hope will become an annual tradition at the State House, is a wonderful opportunity to highlight and reflect on the many important economic contributions of our state’s nearly 582,600 entrepreneurs and small businesses,” said Representative Linda Dorcena Forry, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business. “While the recent economic downturn has presented significant challenges, small businesses have shown today more than ever their sturdiness as the backbone of our state’s economy.” She continued, “We have a diverse and thriving small business community here in the Commonwealth and I look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure our Legislature and our state do everything we can to support them as they spur growth in our communities and strengthen Massachusetts’s reputation as a top place to do business.”
Throughout the week, the Joint Committee will be coordinating and hosting a series of events, including visits by legislators to local small businesses in their home districts, a hearing on the Administration’s progress in implementing Small Business Impact Statement legislation, and the continuation of the Joint Committee’s Statewide Small Business Listening tour with a stop at UMASS Boston’s Venture Development Center and Small Business Development Center. The highlight of the week’s events will be the Small Business Resource Fair on May 23, 2012 from 8:00am to 11:00am in the Great Hall at the State House, which is free and open to the public. At the event, resource providers will be on hand to share information on the many programs available across the state to assist small businesses with everything from designing a business plan to procuring state funding. In addition, small business owners and legislators will have an opportunity to hear from Governor Deval Patrick, Treasurer Steve Grossman, Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray about recent administrative and legislative efforts to improve the business climate in Massachusetts.
This year will mark the first known weeklong State House celebration honoring the small business community here in the Commonwealth. The festivities will coincide with National Small Business Week, an annual celebration started by President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Continuing this wonderful tradition, President Barack Obama has designated May 21st – 26th as National Small Business Week to recognize the important economic contributions of our nation’s nearly 27 million entrepreneurs and small businesses.
For more information on events planned during State House Small Business Week, please see the attached invitation letter and informational flyer. For updates on each of these planned events and to learn more about the work of the Committee, please visit our official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cdsb.ma. Additionally, to learn more about National Small Business Week, please visit www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com
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